The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-08

to show that the institutions were more
economically managed by Democrats than by Re-
publicans. The procuring of campaign ma
terial was the object the report represented OF
the majority's investigation. This the Demo
Gratis sought to have substituted for the ma
jority report In explaining their votes the
Democrats, particularly Gordon and Jewett, as
sumed to be very severe Republicans
for trying to dishonor honorable men
and spreading broadcast infamous scandals
concerning institutions that were managed with
the utmost care and economy. Representative
Grifiths charged the minority members of the
committee with expressing during the investiga
tons opinions adverse to those they reported to
the House. He denounced DR.. Harrison as a
man unfit to be at the head of any institution.
and the minority knew it. Representative Grose
said the Insane Hospital management was
sink of perdition and ought to be botted out
The minority had no courteous words for any
one, it paid no attention to fact, but devoted all
efforts to defending men charged with infamous
crimes. Representative Jewett charged the Re-
publicans with being towards, and other mem
hers of his side of like cahber echoed the charge
throughout the roll call. Representative Scott
said the charge of cowardice. unfalrness and
partsanship against men who were of the party
of Lincoln, Morton and Grant came with bad
grace from men who followed Horsey, Bowles,
Heffren and Green Smith. The utmost
enthusiasm prevailed among the Republicans,
and the crowded galleries and Hobbies responded
to it with frequent applause. On the vote the
Democrats without exception. arrayed them
selves against the majority report, but 1t was
adopted after the voting down Of that of the
minority.
The majority report the northern prison
submitted to the House was amended by ap-
proving the recommendations of the minority
OF the committee concerning the abolition of
convict contract labor. The conclusion in re-
gard to this
Eve do not recommend the immediate and ut
ter adjustment of the contract system, but, as
fho rae+c IF hour fharoh nv a
pre- no new ones shall be entered into, and this
during the coming two years, will amount to
| but small per cent. of those contracted fer
During the present year, in the northern prison,
l40 prisoners will be released from the contract
ors by the expiration of their contracts, and dur
ing the year 1888 seventy-fve additional will be
| so released So, for the two years, 215 of the
695 let out to contractors now, will be subject to
| the orders, to labor of the warden. Let the
| experiment. be tried and the next meeting OF
| the General Assembly in 1889 will find our State
| far in advance in reform n this direction. Let
| those released from their contracts be placed at
work by the warden for the benefit of the State,
| and let the other State institutions be the pur-
| chasers of the product.
.'But the committee does not mean that the
convicts should be kept idle, but, on the coz
trary, demands that they should be employed in
| such manner would aid in their reformation
| and bring their labor the least in competition
| with that of honest men outside Of the prison
! walls, even if the profits to the State are not as
| large as at present And further it does not
suggest the propriety of purchasing EXPENSIVE
| power machinery for the Punishment of all such
| from the prisons would be conducive to the hes:
| interests Of the convict, that he might be en-
| ployed at manual occupations so when his term
| Of service has expired he may be posses sed of a
| trade which would be of benefit to him in after
| life"
| The report further says:
| while the prison is in excellent condition
generally. and we'll managed and disciplined
| there some minor matters of imperfectior
| which met the attention of your committee, but
they of themselves were not of such serious
nature to require legislative action and
simply required the attention of the warden K
| be directed to them to have the remedy applied.
The other facts detailed have already beer
given to the public. The report was adopted
| almost unanimously.